As investigators continue searching for answers in one of America’s most haunting unsolved abduction cases, scammers are now trying to profit from the public’s concern.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has issued a public warning after discovering fraudulent social media posts and online messages containing QR codes that falsely claim to be connected to the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old Arizona woman and mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Authorities say the posts are designed to solicit money from well-meaning people following the case.
“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is aware of posts circulating about the Guthrie investigation that include a QR code requesting money,” the department said in a statement. “PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation.” Officials urged the public not to send money to strangers and not to scan QR codes requesting payment.
The warning comes more than five months after Guthrie vanished from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills. Investigators have repeatedly stated they believe she was taken against her will. Despite an extensive multi-agency investigation involving local authorities, the FBI, and other federal resources, no suspects have been charged and no arrests have been made in connection with the disappearance.
The case has already attracted criminals seeking to exploit the family’s ordeal.
Earlier this year, federal authorities arrested California resident Derrick Anthony Callella after investigators said he sent fraudulent ransom communications to members of the Guthrie family. Prosecutors alleged the messages were part of a scheme to harass relatives while falsely presenting himself as connected to the case.
The latest scam reflects a growing trend that cybersecurity experts call “quishing” — phishing attacks delivered through QR codes. Researchers have found that users frequently trust QR codes because of their convenience, making them an increasingly popular tool for online fraudsters.
Meanwhile, the search for Guthrie continues.
Authorities have previously released surveillance images of a masked individual seen near her home, investigated multiple leads, executed search warrants, and offered substantial rewards for information. The FBI and local law enforcement continue urging anyone with information to come forward.
Savannah Guthrie and other family members have repeatedly made emotional public appeals for help, describing the disappearance as an ongoing nightmare while pleading for anyone with knowledge of Nancy’s whereabouts to contact investigators.
For now, law enforcement officials have a simple message: if a social media post, email, or online message claims to be collecting money for the investigation, treat it as suspicious. And if there’s a QR code attached, don’t scan it.
Folks, there are scammers. There are lowlifes. And then there are the people who look at an 84-year-old grandmother who vanished from her home and think, “How can I make a few bucks off this?” That’s a special category of rotten.
The Guthrie case has gripped the country because it’s every family’s nightmare. An elderly woman disappears. Her family is desperate for answers. Law enforcement is working around the clock. Millions of people genuinely want to help.
And naturally, some criminal genius decides the perfect business opportunity is a fake QR code fundraiser.
The sheriff’s warning shouldn’t even be necessary, but this is the world we live in now. Every major tragedy attracts scammers the way a porch light attracts bugs. These fraudsters aren’t just stealing money. They’re polluting the investigation. Every fake lead, every bogus ransom message, every scam post wastes time and resources that could be spent finding Nancy Guthrie.
The good news is that law enforcement has already shown a willingness to track down people exploiting this case. One alleged fake ransom artist already found out that pretending to be a kidnapper can come with real consequences.
If somebody wants your money, especially through a mysterious QR code floating around social media, you’re probably not helping an investigation. You’re helping a scammer buy lunch. And that lunch ought to come with a side of handcuffs.
